𝐼𝓃𝒻𝒶𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹

Chapter 13- The Weirdo in Carmen's Café

Simone's P.O.V.

After an hour, I finished up my school revision and picked out a huge white plaid sweater with thin black lines, a pair of black jeans and my usual black loafer vans, the only pair of shoes I owned, to go to NatureSoulmates. I brushed my chestnut hair and tied it into a messy ponytail, applied my usual citrus-rose perfume, and exited the apartment, bidding byes to Shady and Asher.

I exited the building. Grabbing my cycle out of the stand, I wheeled it to NatureSoulmates, a ten minute walk and six-seven minute cycle ride. Though my Mom did earn, as a hardworking editor in a news company in Chicago where we lived, I wanted to have my own job in high school. So I'd happily chosen to work as an employee in an NGO. I earnt about 250 dollars over there, per month.
With a supportive and rich dad like Carmen's, yours can be a pretty-paying NGO.

Once I reached, I stood my ride in the almost-filled cycle stand and entered the building. A board on the side of the entrance read:

NatureSoulmates
~A step towards a cleaner, greener and healthier environment.~
Founder: Carmen Schwartz

One of the employees stood at the reception, and I flashed my card at her. She rolled her eyes and grinned, knowing that I was one of the old employees who didn't need to show their card. I just smiled at her. Her name tag read: Mandy

"What's to happen for today?" I asked.

"It's a cleanliness drive. Boston Public Garden has been littered and therefore we're helping out." She said. "You'll find the equipment outside."

"Alright, thank you." I said. I walked to the grassy yard adjoined to the building at the back and spotted Carmen, talking to our newest teen members. I unconsciously tried to find someone else, and when they landed on a familiar, tall, muscly guy with deep brown locks in a sort of messy comb over and sapphire orbs, my heart rate picked up and a strange satisfaction settled into my chest. As he talked to another guy, he didn't exactly see me as I quickly walked to Carmen. I slightly shook my head in annoyance.

"Hey! I expect Mandy's told you the plan for today?" Carmen chirped, on seeing me.

I blinked. "Who?"

She scrunched up her nose in annoyance as I recalled this person named Mandy and rolled my eyes on remembering. "Sheesh, she did." We chuckled at my terrible memory.

"Good." She said. Then turning to the crowd of volunteers and employees in the yard, she cupped her hands to flank her mouth and shouted. "Guys, our last person's here now. Let's go!" She waited till most of them had trooped out, except Chase and this guy named Carlos.
She flashed a smile at the two of them, and I quickly jogged in front of her to avoid any talk with the guy named Chase. 
But my luck is ill.

He obviously jogged over to me while Carmen and Carlos walked behind us, talking. I internally sighed. He strolled with his signature dashing smirk on is face beside me. 
"Trying to escape me again, Beaumont?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not exactly, unless you're thinking of murdering me." I smirked, looking at him then back at the the reception we'd reached. Mandy furiously typed away something on her computer, then sighed, looked up, and waved to everybody heading out the doors. I smiled.

He chuckled. "As infuriatingly charming you are, I might as well be thinking that." He said.

I felt the faintest blush crawl up my neck and rolled my eyes. "I could say the same, but sadly, I don't think so about you." I smirked.

"I know what you think, Beaumont. "He said slyly. I looked up at him, trying to figure out his thoughts, then huffed. "You can try. 'Later, Walker." I said, hopping onto my cycle. A bunch of others had done the same, and stayed ahead, while the walking group stayed behind. I joined the first group before any more of Chase's talk. I bet I could hear him rolling his eyes.